Foot tub



Patented Dec. 1, 1936 FOOT TUB Caroline S. Johnson, San Francisco, Calif., as-

signor of one-half to Carl A. Berntsen, San

Francisco, Calif.

Application October 1;, 1934, Serial No. 747,881

3 Claims.

My invention relates to foot tubs and more particularly to a foot tub of the folding portable type.

It is among the objects of my invention to pro-- vide a collapsible foot tub that is compact, at-

tractive in appearance, and light in weight.

Another object of my invention is to provide a foot tub that may be easily and quickly set up in position to be used.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a foot tub that may be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments'thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end view of a tub embodying the features of my invention; part of the receptacle being broken away to show the position of the foot rack in the receptacle.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the tub, showing the receptacle supporting rods on the frame and the foot rack in position in the receptacle.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 to more clearly show the construction of the drain and plug.

In terms of broad inclusion the foot tub embodying my invention comprises a foldable frame upon which is mounted a collapsible waterproof receptacle, the bottom of which rests on the floor. A rack is provided to be placed in the bottom of the receptacle so that the feet of the user do not contact the bottom of the receptacle.

In greater detail the foot tub of my invention comprises a metal folding frame having at each end a pair of crossed supporting legs 2 and 3, pivotally fastened adjacent their middle points by the rivet A, and having the lower ends 5 cut 45 off at an angle to more securely rest on the floor. A locking bar 6 extends between the legs 2 and 3 adjacent their upper ends and is pivoted on the member 3 by the rivet I; a slot 8 at the other end of the bar 6 engages the rivet head 9 on the member 2, thus rigidly locking the crossed supporting legs in their set-up position.

At the upper end of each supporting leg 2 and 3 is positioned a latch ll comprising a small plate pivoted at its lower end by the rivet l2, and having a slot l3 adjacent its upper end. The

slot I3 is aligned with a hole I provided adjacent the end of each supporting leg.

Receptacle supporting rods I6 are interposed between the two sets of crossed supporting legs to form a rigid frame. The rods extend through 5 the holes 14 in the legs and are held in position by the latch II which engages a circumferential groove Il adjacent the end of the rod. The receptacle I8 which may be of any waterproof material, preferably rubber, is suspended from the rods [6 along two opposite upper edges by means of the hemmed portions I9 which are preferably vulcanized to form the folds. The sides of the receptacle are of suflicient length to allow the bottom to rest flat on the floor, thus relieving the rods l6 and the folds I9 of all strain due to the weight of both the water and the person using the tub. Preferably the bottom flares out over an area in contact with the floor which is greater than the opening in the receptacle as shown in Figure 1.

A wooden foot rack 2| is provided to be placed in the bottom of the receptacle so that the feet of the user do not contact the bottom of the receptacle. This rack is preferably made in two pieces fastened together by hinges 22 which are countersunk to present a smooth upper surface. Grooves 23 in the rack eliminate the possibility of a slippery surface being presented to the users feet. Cleats 24 on the under side of the rack at each end strengthen as well as hold the rack proper from resting on the bottom of the receptacle. The provision of the rack is a very desirable means of protecting the users feet from extreme temperatures that might occur if the tub were placed on a marble floor or other extremely cold surface. It is also undesirable to have the feet in contact with the bottom of the receptacle as the material of which the receptacle is made absorbs heat from the liquid therein and is very uncomfortable to the touch.

A drain 26, of any well known construction used with a rubber receptacle, such as that shown in Figure 3, is supplied adjacent the lower edge of one end of the receptacle to facilitate emptying the water after using. A stopper 21. of cork or rubber inserted in the drain holds back the water when the tub is in use.

Persons such as actors, dancers, travelling salesmen, or anyone who is on his feet a great deal of the time finds that a foot bath is very refreshing but that it is not only inconvenient but sometimes impossible to take a foot bath in the ordinary studio lot, stage dressing room or hotel room. It is under these conditions that the foot tub of my invention may be conveniently used. It may be easily placed in a suitcase or in any hand luggage when folded. When its use is desired it takes but a few moments to unfold, set

supporting frame, a flat bottomed collapsible receptacle mounted on said frame with its bottom resting on the floor, and a foldable wooden rack in the bottom of the receptacle to keep the feet from contacting the receptacle and to provide a rigid bottom when the tub is in use.

2. A foot tub comprising a. foldable supporting frame, a collapsible waterproof receptacle arranged on said frame so that the bottomthereof in position of use is adapted to rest on the floor, said bottom flaring out over a greater area than the area of the receptacle opening, and a wooden foot rack disposed in the bottom of the receptacle.

3. A foot tub comprising a foldable supporting frame, a collapsible waterproof receptacle arranged on said frame so that the bottom thereof in position of use is adaptedto rest on the floor over an area at least as large as the area of the receptacle opening, and a foot rack disposed in the bottom of the receptacle to provide a rigid bottom in the tub when in use, said rack being formed of wood to provide thermal insulation under the feet of the user and comprising hingedly vconnected sections to facilitate insertion into the tub.

CAROLINE S. JOHNSON. 

